Michael Richard Arruda was a 35-year-old deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who died on June 15, 2004, from a gunshot wound sustained during an incident on June 9, 2004, in Hacienda Heights, California. Deputies had responded to a Motel 6 after reports of someone firing shots and making threats. When they approached the motel unit, 51-year-old Paul Smith of Whittier emerged and fired at the deputies with a pellet pistol that closely resembled a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Deputies returned fire and killed the suspect. During the exchange, one of the rounds fired by the deputies struck Deputy Arruda in the neck. He was taken to Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, remained in critical condition for six days, and died on June 15. Arruda had 13 years of service and was survived by his fiancée, who was pregnant with their son, his daughter, parents, brother, and sister. The investigation concluded the wound was an accidental shooting by a fellow deputy, that the deputies acted in self-defense and defense of others, and no criminal charges were filed.

Does anyone have information about Deputy Arruda’s service or the scene that could add detail to the events of June 9, 2004?